I saw a nice laptop from Toshiba, but it doesn't have an optical drive. Does this mean that you must buy the optional extra drive - otherwise you can't install any software? (e.g. MS Office.)

http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.c...shibaShop=true

 

If the laptop is usb2 (Which it should be) then you could just buy an external usb2 drive.The only downside is that it will be bulky in comparison to the original Tosh one but if you just plan on leaving it at home then it should be fine!

 

even if you are out and about, you can still mount CD images with Daemon tools

 

Thanks for your advice guys

I think the laptop would def need a USB drive to go with it. Not sure about mounting the CD images, as I can use a USB stick to carry stuff around - it's just installing software that's the prob.

Regards
Nick

 

I have that Toshiba laptop, It has an SD card reader, or as said you can just hook up a usb cd/hardrive.

I dont miss having an optical drive at all, I just use my wireless network for moving files about from one to the other.

 

Ok thanks, I noticed the SD card slot.

The problem is with installing original shrinkwrap software, like MS Office etc. I need an optical drive for that.

 

I had no problem installing office from the usb drive, although my copy is vanilla Offic XP 2003, nothing more complicated.

Must admit I have now seen smaller/thinner laptops, the Fujitsu is tiny for similar money.

 

Ive got one of these http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=74824 which takes cd/dvd drives and hard disks no problem. It is big but probably cheaper than buying a toshiba drive.

 

My works IBM X40 has no optical drive, the optical drive is mounted in a mini-docking station. I've not yet made up my mind if this is a good or bad idea though

The machines are pre-imaged and any additional software is installed over the network so it kinda makes the optical drive a tad redundant.

 

Thanks

Is that Office XP or Office 2003?

How did you install from the USB drive - copy the CD onto the pen drive? Would that work? Also, what's vanilla software?

I know the Fujitsu range, up to last month I was in the Fujitsu Siemens partner program. I've now changed to HP & Toshiba due to some terrible on-site warranty work from a Fujitsu Siemens "engineer" to one of my customers.

 

Thanks for the link.

 

Office 2003, but I dont use exchange server or anything like that, just the basics.

I installed it from my USB2 DVD drive and then let the updates download via my wireless network.

I then just move any files around via a USB memory stick or my SD card, never missed having an optical drive.

 

Ok thanks for the tips.